Just venting...failed vehicle inspection ...

[mikeinaustin]

went to a local firestone and my 2005 g35 failed the inspection. the guy said that code requires front parking/running lamps to be amber but mine are white. i showed him pictures that all infiniti g35's have white parking lamps straight from the factor but he wouldn't budge. they wanted to charge me $80 to change from white to amber bulbs. afterwards i looked up both federal and texas requirements and sure enough, parking lamps can be white or amber. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

 

[urrlord]

Can you go back with a printout and get it passed?Without paying for another inspection.
Maybe go back when that jerk is not on duty.

 

[JasonC]

Sounds like he was just trying to milk you for $$$$$$. I would report him to the state police.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: JasonC
Sounds like he was just trying to milk you for $$$$$$. I would report him to the state police.


+1, and complain to firestone directly if he was blatantly wrong.

 

[Burt]

I give him points for creativity but not intelligence. How do they think this stuff up? I have not found Texas inspections to be that picky, but then I don't go to upsell specialists like Firestone for inspection.

A similar place told my daughter that she needed a transmission fluid change at 17,000 miles on her 2010 Civic. I told her that they had blown all credibility and to run.

 

[eljefino]

I'm sure you can find the inspection manual online. Print it out and haul it in.

The state can't be more tight than NHTSA/DOT laws that say fronts can be clear or amber, rears red or amber.

 

[Donald]

I would report him to the state and Firestone. I am in NY and sometimes have gone to a quick oil change place (not for oil) for an inspection only and they always seem to find something wrong for another $20. They do pull a wheel and check brake pads and I have passed with pads I knew were shot and was going to change soon. In addition I am concerned about them reinstalling the wheel and not over torquing it.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: mikeinaustin
went to a local firestone and my 2005 g35 failed the inspection. the guy said that code requires front parking/running lamps to be amber but mine are white. i showed him pictures that all infiniti g35's have white parking lamps straight from the factor but he wouldn't budge. they wanted to charge me $80 to change from white to amber bulbs. afterwards i looked up both federal and texas requirements and sure enough, parking lamps can be white or amber. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.


Report those yahoos.

State inspection is one of the only times my cars see a garage. Too much "stuff" seems to happen otherwise.

 

[PZR2874]

Don't pay the fee. I know it's against the law, but so is stupidity.

Meh, go somewhere else. Strong arm them. They will backoff

 

[mpvue]

there are lots of guys who change out amber lenses for clear, but continue to use the clear bulbs, that's not allowed, as signals need to be amber.
so if you have clear lenses, I assume you have the correct amber bulbs?

 

[sasilverbullet]

Mike, find somewhere else to take the car for an inspection. Here in Texas we have one of the easiest to pass inspections. Take it to a lube place, they do inspections.

 

[fsdork]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
there are lots of guys who change out amber lenses for clear, but continue to use the clear bulbs, that's not allowed, as signals need to be amber.
so if you have clear lenses, I assume you have the correct amber bulbs?


^This. Most regulations require front turn signals to emit amber light. This can be done with an amber bulb through a clear lens, or a clear bulb through an amber lens, but the end product must be amber.

 

[DrDusty86]

I took my car to a quick lube for inspection and the guy told me I needed front pads before it would pass. I put pads on it 2 days prior. I told him that and he was like UUUMMMM...UUUU..UUUMMM. They got shut down for a week when I reported them. This was In San Marcos Off Hopkins.

 

[HerrStig]

Amber front signals are NOT required in my state, just WORKING ones. How can ANY service droid look you in the eye and tell you it will cost $40.00 a side to change a BULB???? BTW in almost every state there is an appeal provision for someone whose car has been failed. The droids count on you not going to the trouble. If you do, this outfit could get their inspection license yanked. You could, of course, buy amber versions of the bulb at Wally for 3 bucks and change them yourself. I am sure your manual tells you how. Toyota manuals do.

 

[mikeinaustin]

these weren't the turn signal bulbs (which are amber) they were the front parking/running lamps (which can be amber or white). On g35's they have always been white.

i got the manager to void the bill, so it has not cost me anything but my time.

 

[UG_Passat]

fmvss 108 requires the forward facing parking light to be white or amber

signals up front, amber

side markers front, amber

the bulb they want to change is a PITA to change

print out the federal standard and show it to their service manager

 

[Klutch9]

So wait... is everyone saying that it is legal to have WHITE front turn signals and parking lights? I thought they had to give off an amber color? Or are you all saying that the bulb can be white/clear as long as it has an amber lens?

 

[UG_Passat]

Originally Posted By: Klutch9
So wait... is everyone saying that it is legal to have WHITE front turn signals and parking lights? I thought they had to give off an amber color? Or are you all saying that the bulb can be white/clear as long as it has an amber lens?


no.

what is legal is outlined in the FMVSS 108.

front turn signals have to be amber.

forward facing parking lights can be clear or amber

front side parking lights (usually with the front side reflector) has to be amber.

for those lights that have to be amber AND has an amber lens, a clear bulb will still output amber.

 

[UG_Passat]

P.S. back to the OP... the G35 has a separate front side bumper mounted amber reflector/lens for the side marker.... that is why it satisfy FMVSS 108 requirements.

 

[yonyon]

Klutch9: It varies from state to state.

For example, in the state where I live it depends on the model year. A MY1965 car can have white turn signals and can even use the headlight as turn signals. In late model vehicles front parking and turn signal lights must both be yellow, but having front parking lights at all is optional unless the veichle is more than X inches wide. Also, we have a rule stating that "as configured when new" is good enough for inspection even if it wouldn't otherwise be allowable.